MANCHESTER – An unforgettable morning raised money so that local children will have an unforgettable night.
At the Penguin Plunge, three dozen volunteers leaped into the cold waters of Harry Wright Lake. They raised money for the special needs students of Regional Day School to have a prom at the end of the school year. The school is located in Jackson but is a division of the Manchester School District.
Before the plunge, folks gathered around, getting themselves psyched up. The water temperature was posted – a brisk 50 degrees.
Plungers and their supporters were near the picnic tables, bidding on raffle baskets made up of donations. When it was time, they made their way to the beach.
On cue, they charged a short stretch into the lake, leaping or stomping into the water. Most of them didn’t last long, and turned around to wade their way back. Some of them were halfway back to dry land before others even got wet. Some of them, however, went back in a second time.
It was an opportunity to be silly. One of them was dressed as a penguin. Nikki Flanagan, a district paraprofessional, had some fun with it, too. She wore an inflatable polar bear that made it look like she was riding it.
“These kids mean the world to me and I would do anything for them,” she said.
Police Chief Antonio Ellis said five officers participated in the plunge. Every year, the department puts out a call to join it and these five answered the call. The event has been going on for many years and he was proud that the young officers continued the tradition.
The PBA donated $1,000 and the Police Foundation donated $1,250 from No Shave November, he said.
It had been started by John and Linda McCarthy. “She said ‘I have an idea’” and the rest is history, John said.
He recalled that one year the water was 38 degrees. Previous events have had snow, rain or hail.
The sun was bright that morning, but it probably didn’t matter once you got wet. After the plunge, people didn’t stick around too long, eager to dry off and get someplace warm.
Lisa Michallis, principal of the Regional Day School, had jumped every year for 12 years. It’s an important day to help support the kids and make sure they have a wonderful prom.
She said there were 36 plungers this year. Their record was 60.
Manchester Superintendent Diane Pedroza noted how many staff and community members were there that day.
“We’re so grateful to the volunteers,” she said.
